Great Places to Live for $1,000 a Month
Here are the best places to live if you're on a budget.
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Although rent is increasing in many places throughout the country, there are plenty of beautiful places in the U.S. where you can still pay less than $1,000.
GOBankingRates scoured the country to find cities with rents under $1,000, based on Zillow data. We then combined that information with desirable livability scores as rated by AreaVibes to find affordable places in the best locales. Click through to see the best places to live where rent is cheap.
Dayton, Ohio
Monthly rent: $711
Livability score: 59
If you’re looking for one of the most affordable places to live, consider Dayton.
AreaVibes gives Dayton’s amenities an A+, listing leisure-time attractions that include first-rate museums, theaters, parks and historic landmarks. The city also received high marks for its low cost of living and a climate where summer temperatures average in the mid-70s. Even in the coldest winter months, some days in the mid-60s are not unheard of.
Yuma, Ariz.
Monthly rent: $965
Livability score: 61
Weather averaging in the 60s makes Yuma a prime getaway destination in the winter months. Things heat up from mid-May through early October, though, when daily temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.
The city abounds with ways to escape the dry desert heat, however, scoring an A+ on AreaVibes for amenities. Head out to Centennial Beach along the Colorado River for a swim, take a boat out on the river or explore cool parks around the city.
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Springfield, Mo.
Monthly rent: $820
Livability score: 61
Although it’s tucked in the scenic Ozark Mountains, you’ll find everything you need in Springfield — which also happens to be one of the best places to live on only a Social Security check, found a separate study.
The city rates A+ for its amenities, according to AreaVibes, with a multitude of options for dining, shopping and entertainment. The city enjoys a cost of living that’s 6 percent below the average cost of living in Missouri, coupled with an unemployment rate of just 1.9 percent as of October.
Shreveport, La.
Monthly rent: $884
Livability score: 62
Shreveport received top grades from AreaVibes for its amenities, weather and cost of living. And in a separate study, it ranked as one of the best cities to retire with a budget of $1,000 a month.
Amenities that include 50 family-friendly attractions, six casinos, a horse racing track and more than 50 festivals throughout the year draw visitors and offer locals plenty of leisure activities. Add in a cost-of-living index that’s 14 percent lower than the national average and a mild climate with monthly averages ranging from 48 to 83 degrees, and it’s not surprising that Shreveport ranks among the best places to live.
Jackson, Miss.
Monthly rent: $788
Livability score: 62
The Mississippi Freedom Trail brings visitors to Jackson to visit historic sites that changed history during the civil rights movement. But the city is also one of the best places to live when you’re looking for prime amenities coupled with a low cost of living.
The cost of living is 19 percent lower than the national average, earning it a B+ grade with AreaVibes. But its mild climate and modern amenities scored an A- and A+, respectively.
Kansas City, Kan.
Monthly rent: $852
Livability score: 63
It’s true that Kansas City is one of the cities where home prices are skyrocketing. However, rent is fairly low.
Plus, if you’re a fan of barbecue, you can spend a lifetime making culinary explorations in the Kansas City area. Although the Barbecue Capital of the World is technically just across the Missouri River in Kansas City, Mo., it’s one big metropolis that offers plenty of world-class, mouthwatering eats on both sides of the river.
Kansas City also rates a higher livability score from AreaVibes than its sister across the water for plentiful amenities, good weather and a 6 percent lower cost of living.
Augusta, Ga.
Monthly rent: $834
Livability score: 64
A cost of living that is 13 percent less than the national average makes Augusta a desirable place to consider when looking for a great place to live for less than $1,000 a month. It’s also one of the 50 cheapest places to retire.
Fall in love with the amenities and attractions that include golf clubs, museums and historical sites, dance halls and nature parks. Augusta National Golf Club hosts the famed Masters tournament each spring. The city sits along the picturesque Savannah River, where you can take a scenic stroll along the Riverwalk, go on a riverboat cruise or paddle a kayak.
Akron, Ohio
Monthly rent: $759
Livability score: 64
There are many reasons that Akron makes our list of one of the best places to live for under $1,000 a month. Visitors and residents alike can climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, see endangered species at the zoo or hike along the scenic Cuyahoga River when in Akron.
Sunny weather with temperatures that can rise into the upper 60s on occasion during January and February means you’ll get a chance to get outdoors and enjoy Akron’s many amenities at any time of year.
Birmingham, Ala.
Monthly rent: $748
Livability score: 64
Dramatic natural areas and an abundance of entertainment options draw visitors to the Birmingham area. But a cost-of-living index that is 18 percent lower than the national average makes it sensible to stay. In fact, Birmingham is also one of the best places to live on a fixed income.
Enjoy a day of golf in the city’s mild climate that generally stays between 47 and 81 degrees annually and head out for a night filled with dining and entertainment.
Wichita, Kan.
Monthly rent: $950
Livability score: 65
You can live quite comfortably in Wichita. The number of jobs in Wichita is forecast to increase in 2018, while the cost-of-living index remains 9 percent below the national average.
Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World, but not because of its good air quality, which beats the national average by 21 percent. Roughly 75 percent of general aviation aircraft has been made in the city since the days of Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Pensacola, Fla.
Monthly rent: $983
Livability score: 66
As one of the oldest European settlements in the nation, Historic Pensacola Village offers artifacts dating back more than 450 years for visitors to explore. Combine that with the sugar-soft sands along Pensacola Beach, and you might find it surprising that you can rent for less than $1,000 per month. Best of all, you’ll enjoy a cost of living that’s 5 percent below the national average.
Tulsa, Okla.
Monthly rent: $981
Livability score: 67
Situated along the Arkansas River, Tulsa and its central Deco District are a big draw for architecture tourism. The city has everything you’d expect from a big city along a major waterway, including a thriving arts and entertainment district, a scenic riverwalk lined with shops and restaurants, and opportunities for paddle sports and boating.
To go along with its A+ amenities, the city also receives high marks from AreaVibes for its mild climate and a cost of living that is 9 percent under the national average.
Fayetteville, N.C.
Monthly rent: $888
Livability score: 67
History buffs visit Fayetteville to retrace history dating to the American Revolution and Civil War. The scenic city isn’t stuck in the past, however.
AreaVibes gives it an A+ for its many amenities that include modern pursuits such as indoor climbing, CrossFit and a zipline adventure soaring above treetops and waterfalls. The city also enjoys a mild climate and boasts a cost of living that’s 5 percent lower than the national average.
Evansville, Ind.
Monthly rent: $868
Livability score: 67
Nestled along the Indiana-Kentucky border, Evansville attracts visitors to its ancient Native American earth mounds and modern attractions that include a children’s museum, zoo and botanic garden, museums and a family entertainment center.
But there’s good reason to put down roots in the city. The cost-of-living index is 17 percent lower than the national average, and you’ll pay less for everything from transportation costs to housing, making it one of the best places to live.
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Topeka, Kan.
Monthly rent: $927
Livability score: 69
The capital of Kansas isn’t the largest city in the state. In fact, Topeka ranks fifth, according to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau estimate. But it takes top honors in the state when it comes to the best place to live for under $1,000 a month. The cost-of-living index is 14 percent below the national average, and jobs and housing values are on the rise, according to DataUSA.
The city rolls out amenities enjoyed by both visitors and locals alike, including breweries and wineries, cultural arts and entertainment, and family-friendly attractions.
Mobile, Ala.
Monthly rent: $955
Livability score: 69
Tucked along Alabama’s southern coast, Mobile once went by the moniker “The Paris of the South.” Culture, cuisine and Mardi Gras festivities are just three reasons people visit the city, but there are many more reasons to stay. Enjoy a cost-of-living index that’s 8 percent less than the national average as well as stunning beaches and a mild year-round climate to enjoy them.
Montgomery, Ala.
Monthly rent: $850
Livability score: 70
Montgomery is a prime place to recount historic moments in the civil rights movement, but it’s also one of the best places to live for a lifetime.
The state’s capital city rolls out a bevy of shopping, entertainment and dining options along with cultural attractions and nature parks. Enjoy a cost of living that is 11 percent less than the national average, including housing costs that average 26 percent lower than those across the nation. In fact, Montgomery is one of the major cities where home prices are falling.
Columbus, Ga.
Monthly rent: $800
Livability score: 70
From the scenic 15-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk to innovative museums, performing arts centers and other attractions, Columbus has plenty to keep visitors spellbound. If the mild climate and well-above-average air quality make you want to never leave, settle in.
The city is one of the best places to live for under $1,000 per month and boasts a cost-of-living index that’s 9 percent below the national average and a growing economy.
Killeen, Texas
Monthly rent: $950
Livability score: 71
Best known as the home of Fort Hood, which is the largest active-duty armored post in the U.S. military, Killeen is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, according to the Killeen Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Institutes of learning such as the University of Central Texas A&M and Central Texas College combine with attractions that include museums, a modern planetarium, a beach and a full menu of water sports, attracting both visitors and residents alike.
Brownsville, Texas
Monthly rent: $931
Livability score: 77
The southernmost city in the state of Texas, Brownsville is home to spring break paradise South Padre Island.
The city enjoys a cost of living that is 22 percent lower than the national average and a school system that ranks well above the national average in test scores. Property values are on the rise by nearly 2 percent annually, according to DataUSA, and jobs are increasing by more than 3 percent annually.
Up Next: What $1,500 in Rent Gets You in Every State
About the Author
Jodi Thornton-O'Connell
Jodi O’Connell is a freelance wordsmith based in Sedona, Arizona, who writes about everything from vacation vagary and adventure sports to real estate and pets. She spent more than a decade in Arizona’s real estate industry advising first-time homebuyers and commercial investors before indulging her passion for the written word on a full-time basis. Her articles appear on websites as diverse as U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, Hipmunk, Roots Rated, and Travelocity.
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